Portable case and the like



Oct. ,26, 1937. H. H. sTYLL PRTABLE CASE AND THE LIKE original FiledJan. 27, 1955 2 sheets-shawl YT" l INVENTOR Oct. 26, 1937.

original Filed Jan. 27, 193s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 26,1937 PATaNr PRTABL CASE AND THE LIKE Harry H. Styll, Southbridge, Mass.

Application January 27, 1933, Serial No. 653,849 ReneWedOctober 4, 193519 claims. (c1. 15o- 71.65

This invention relates to improvements in portable cases and hasparticular reference to operable means for supporting the case inupright position.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide simple andeconomical collapsible supporting means by which the case may besupported in upright position when desired and which may be folded upinconspicuously at other lowtimes. i

Another object of the invention is to provide simple means forsupporting a case in upright position that otherwise would beoverbalanced and would not stand in such an upright position.

15.; Another object of the invention is to provide simple means by whicha case or le that willnot ordinarily stand in an upright posi-tion maybe so supported for reference and use in such position.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient meansthat will support a case in upright position and that will also eX- pandthe case when being moved to supporting position and that will collapsethe case when being moved to stowed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple, economical andinconspicuous means .for supporting a collapsible case in uprightposition when desired for use as a vertical file device.

l Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings. It will be apparent that many changes in arrangement of partsand details of 35 construction may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention as expressedin the accompanying claims. AItherefore dov not wish to be confined to the exact arrangements shownand described, as the .preferred forms 40 have been shown and describedby way` of illustration only.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure I is a perspective view showing the invention applied to acollapsible brief case.

Figure II is a bottom view of Figure I showing the case in collapsedposition.

Figure III is a view similar to FigureV II showing the case in expandedposition.

Figure IV is a partial cross section on line IV-IV of Figure III.

Figure V is a rear elevation showing a modied form of the invention.

Figure VI is an end view of Figure V.

modif-led form of the invention.

Figure VIII is an end View of, Figure VII.

Figure IX isan end view showing'a modifica-V tion, and Y Figure X is abottom-viewrshowing another modification,

As is well known, brief cases and similar cases for carrying papers andother objects are-relatively high and wide .and relatively narrow acrossthe bottom, so that they will not stand alone in vertical or uprightposition.Y The case when not in use is therefore usually laid down uponone of its broad sides or horizontally. The contents as a consequencehave to be removed or inserted in a horizontal direction. This .makesthe case unhandy in use and of no' assistance while the paper orarticles removed from it is being used. As a consequence, attorneys orothers whol use such cases usually remove the contents, or at least thedesired portion of the contents, and then lay the case aside, asotherwise'it would be in the way. Very often it is of vimportance thatcertain portions of the contents should not be exposed to view and thatonly that part of the contents immediately desired for use at the timeshould be removed. If the contents have to be referred to back andforth, or in orderly progression, it involves an awkward break in theproceeding to have to pause and insert or remove parts of the contentsof the case.Y Were the case supported in a vertical position thecontents would be easily accessible in any order desired and the casecould be used not only as a vertical file case but asia support for thecontents in use as well. It is, therefore, one of the principal objectsof this Vinvention to provide means by which such cases can be so used.

Referring to the Ydrawings, Vwhereinrsimilar characters of referencedenote corresponding parts throughout: y'

In Figure I,.I have shown an expandible brief case made of leather orother flexible .material having the case walls l, theV fluted expansionmembers 2, and the pocket division walls 3. On

the bottom of the caSaFigures II and III, I place thebrace members i!lhaving the horizontal portions l0 and theupright portions` Il. 'Ihe partI0 @Omlats with the bottom of thecase and the and the parts pushedtogether.

part II with the side thereof. These braces are secured to the cases byrivets or otherwise as at I2.

Pivoted to the part I of the braces are the extension rods I3 having theguide slots I4, into which t the pins I5 secured to the feet 8.

The operation is as follows:

When the case is closed or collapsed as shown in Figure II, the feet 8lie over the'rod 4 in a longitudinal direction, the pins I5 being at theouter ends of the slots I 4. To extend the feet 8 transversely as shownin Figure III,`the feet 8 are rotated on the pivots 1, the pins I5moving to the inner ends of the slots I4. 'I'his movement of the feet 8expands the case as shown in'Figure III. Moving the parts to theposition shown in Figure II contracts the case.V When the feet 8 areextended transversely as shownin Figure III, the case Will be supportedvertically'as shown' in Figure I, and the case used as a vertical le forinserting or removing contents, and it also can be used as a support ofthe paper on content in use.

In the modication shown in Figures V and VI there is provided a bracemember having the f vertical legs 25 and the horizontal leg 2B. The legs25 are pivotally connected to the case I at ZTI, so that the bracemember may rest against the case when stowed and be extended therefromto form a supporting easel as shown in Figure VI. To hold the bracemember in extended position awayV from the case there is provided theextension member 28, having the central hinge 29 and the end hinges 30,forming pivotal connection with the braceV member and the caserespectively. When not in use as an easel support the brace member liesagainst 'thecase I. When extended, as shown in Figure VI, it is held inposition by the extension member 28. To move the brace member fromextension position it is necessary only to press the hinge 29 upwardly,which causes it to fold on the hinge 29, as indicated in dotted lines inFigure VI. When held extended as in Figure VI the case may be .used as afile case and the les 3| taken out or replaced without disturbing `theposition of the case. The case in this position may also be used for areading support.

In the modification shown in`Figures VII'and VIII, two cases I areutilized, they being hinged together at 32. The hinge at 32 may bepreferably a fold of the material from which the cases I are made, or itmay be a separate hinge secured to the parts 33 and 34 respectively. Thecase may be held in extended position as shown in Figure VIII by meansof the extension member 35, having the central hinge 36 and the endhinges 3l! and 38 secured to the members 33 and 34 respectively. Whenstowed the members 33 and 34 rest against each other. When extended asin Figure VIII they are held apart by the extension 35. To close themembers 33 and 34, the extension member 35 is pushed up Von the hinge35, as indicated in dotted lines Figure VIII,

In extended position the les 3| may be removed or inserted withoutdisturbing the position of the case, and the case may be used as areading stand.

Y In Figure IX is shown a modication in which the extension member V28is applied to each end of the case near the bottom thereof. The member28 is secured to the case I at the pivotal means 38 and it has thecentral hinge 29. When i the member 28 is extended as shown, the caseWill stand upright on its bottom. The vmember 28 operates in the samemanner as the member 28 in Figure VI.

In Figure X is shown a modification in which the extension member 28 isapplied to the bottom of the case near its ends being connected to thecase in manner similar to that of Figure IX. When the member 28 isextended the case I will stand uprighton its bottom. The operation ofthe member 28 is similar to that of the member 28 in Figure IX.

Instead of being hinged at 29 the member 28 in` Figures IX and X couldbe made in two pieces, each connected to the case .at an end at 30 andbeing slidably connected adjacent the center. When the case is expandedor retracted the two pieces would slide one on the other.

While the devices kdescribed are particularly cases as Well.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple,eilicient, economical, and inconspicuous means for vcarrying out all theobjects of the invention and for obtaining its advantages.

Having described the invention, I claim:

' applicable to expansion cases, some forms of the `invention may Valsobe applied to nonexpanding 1. In combination with a case portionrelatively long, high and relatively thin and expansible, a foot member,means for movably securing the foot member to the case portion and meansfor limiting the movement of the foot member on its securing means tothe case from a position where the foot member is stowed against thecase portion to one where the foot member will support the case portionon its relatively thin base, said means for limiting the movement of thefoot being associated with the front and rear walls of the case andbeing adapted to expand the said case when the foot is moved to itssupporting position.

2. In combination With a case portion relatively long and high andrelatively thin, a foot member and means for pivotally connecting thefoot member intermediate its ends to the base of the case portionwhereby the foot member may be positioned beneath and extendedlongitudinally with the base of the case portion and moved to a positionin a direction substantially normal thereto wherein one of its ends willproject outwardly of the rear and the other to the front of the case.

3. In combination with a device of the character described, a fixedsupport member, a foot member pivoted intermediateits ends to thesupport member, an extension member having a guide portion and meansassociated with the foot member and interengaging with the said guideportion for conning the movement of the foot member on its pivot to anarc of substantially 90 degrees. Y

4. In combination with a case having expansion means between its sides,a support secured to the base of the case, a foot member pivoted to thesupport and extension means having pivotal connection to the case andguide means interengaging the toot member whereby the movement of thefoot member on its pivot will be confined from a position where the footmember lies longitudinally of the base of the case to one where it liessubstantiallyY transverse thereto and which will cause the expansionmeans of the case to expand or contract during said movement from oneposition to the other. y

5. In combination with` a case having expansion means between its sides,a support secured to the base ofthe case, a foot member pivoted to thesupport, extension means associated with the case and foot member tocontrol the movement of the foot member on its pivot from a positionwhere the foot member lies longitudinally of the base of the case to aposition where it lies substantially normal thereto and which willexpand or contract the expansion means' of the case during said movementand brace members associated -With `the sides of the case and with theextension means to support the sides when the case is expanded andrested on the said foot memben 6. In combination with a case-likeportion relatively long and high and relatively thin, a foot member anda pair of link members each having a guide slot therein, said linkmembers having a pivotal connection to the case, and said foot memberhaving means slidable in the slots in the link member and a pivotalVconnection to the case.

7. A case portion having relatively long and high side portions andbeing relatively thin, a foot member, means for pivotally connecting thefoot member intermediate its ends to the'base of the case portion andguide means slidably associated with the foot memberV and pivotallyconnected with the case portion for controlling the movement of theAfoot member on the base of the case portion from a position where thefoot member extends longitudinally of the base to one where it extendssubstantially normal thereto.

8. In combination with a case-like portion rel-V tively long and highand relatively thin, a support secured to the base of the caseintermediate the sides, a foot member pivoted to the support, bracemembers in the case adjacent the sides and link members having slotstherein, each link being pivoted to a brace member and the foot memberhaving means slidable inthe slots of the link members.

9. In combination with a case-like portion relatively long and high andrelatively thin, a support secured to the bottom of the case portionintermediate its sides, a foot member pivoted to the support, bracemembers secured to each sideV of the case portion and link membershaving slots therein, each end of a link being pivoted to a bracemember, and the foot member having means slidable in the slots of thelinks.

l0. A case support for use with a case composed of front and rear Wallsformed of stify flexible material comprising a main support having meansfor attachment to one of the side walls of the case and having anassociate support member pivotally connected so that it may be folded toa position substantially parallel with a portion of the main support andin stowed relation with the case when not in use and so that it may beopened to lie in a direction transverse to the plane of the main supportto form a transverse base in cooperative relation with said main supportadjacent the bottom of the case to aid in supporting the case in anupright position.

1l. A case support for use with a case composed of side walls formed ofstiiy flexible material comprising a main support having means forattachment to one of the side Walls of the case and having a pair ofassociate support members pivotally connected so that they may be foldedin overlapped relation with each other and in stowed relation with thecase when not in use and so that they may be opened to an elongatedrelation-'With each other in a direction transverse to the plane of themain support to form a base in cooperative relation with said mainsupport adjacent the bottom of the case to aid in supporting the case inan upright position. y Y

12. A ycase comprising front and rear walls formed of stiilly flexiblematerial, a main support having a portion associated with one of theside walls of the case and having an associate support member pivotallyconnected thereto so that it may be folded with respect to the supportand in stowed relation with the case when not in use and so that it maybe opened to lieV in a direction `transverse to the planeV of the mainsupport to formV a base in cooperative relation with said main supportadjacent the bottom of the case to aid in supporting the case in anupright position, Y

173. A case comprising frontand Vrear walls formed of stiiily flexiblematerial, a main support attached to one of the side walls of the caseand having a pair of associate support members pivotally connected sothat they may be folded in overlapped relation with each other and instowed relation with the case when not in use and so that they may beopened to an elongated relation with each other inV a directiontransverse to the plane of the main support to form a base incooperative relation with said Y main support to aid in supporting thecase in an upright position.

14. In combination with a case portion having relatively long and highside walls and which is relatively thin, a main support having means forattachment to one of the side walls and having a pair of associate bracemembers adjustably associated therewith and With each other adjacent thebottom of the case, said braceV .walls of the case in an uprightposition.

15. A case comprising front and rear walls which may be moved to varyingspaced relation with each other, a main support associated with the caseand having an associate support member rotatably connected so that itmay be folded in substantially overlapped relation with the main supportand in stowed relation with the case when not in use and sothat it maybe opened to a relationl substantially transverse the main support toform a base in cooperative relation with said main support to aid insupporting the casein an upright position and means associated with saidassociate support member for varying the spaced relation of the frontand rear walls when said associate support member is moved from stowedposition to its position substantially transverse the main support.

16. A case comprising front and rear walls and a collapsible base, asupport rotatably associated intermediate its ends with said collapsiblebase so that it may be folded in substantially overlapped relation withthe base and in stowed relation with the case when not in use and sothat it may be opened to a relation substantially transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the base whereby its opposed ends are projectedoutwardly beyond the front and rear walls of the case to form a supportto aid in supporting the case in an upright position.

17. A case comprising front and rear Walls and a collapsible basewhereby the front and rear walls may be moved to varying spaced relationwith each other, a support rotatably associated with the baseintermediate its ends so that it may be folded in substantiallyoverlapped relation with the base and in stowed relation with the casewhen not in use and so that it may be opened to a relation substantiallytransverse to the longitudinal axis of the base whereby its opposed endswill extend outwardly beyond the front and rear walls respectively ofthe case to forni a support to aid in supporting the case in an uprightposition and means associated with said support and with the front andrear walls of the oase for varying the spaced relation of said front andrear walls when said support is moved from stowed position to itsposition substantially tranverse the longitudinal axis of the base. Y

18. A case comprising front and rear walls having expansion meanstherebetween, supports associated with said case having a pivotalconnection intermediate their ends and portions spaced from theintermediate pivotal connection provided with pivotal connections to theportions of the case which may be expanded so that the said supports maybe folded and positioned substantially in stowed relation with the casewhen not in use and so that portions thereof may be opened to a relationsubstantially transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the case whenin use to form means in cooperative relation With said ease for aidingin supporting it in an upright position;

19. A case comprising front and rear walls having expansion meanstherebetween, supports associated with the case having a pivotalconnection intermediate their ends and portions spaced from theintermediate pivotal connection provided with pivotal connections to thecase so that the -said supports may be folded and positionedsubstantially in stowed relation with the case when not in use and sothat portions thereof may be opened to a relation substantiallytransverse to the longitudinal dimension of the case when in use to formmeans for aiding in supporting the case in an upright position, saidsupports also providing means for expanding the expansion means toincrease the space between the front and rear walls of the case andhaving means associated therewith for locking the walls in said spacedrelation when opened.

HARRY H. STYLL.

